Self-loading firearm



Patented July 3,1923.

FRITZ WALTHER AND GEORG WALTHER, OF ZELLE-MEHLIS, GERMANY.

SELF-LOADING FIREARM.

Application led August 29, 1921. Serial No. 496,757.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS F THE ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L., 1313.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, FRITZ VALTHER and GEORG VALTHER, citizens of the German Republic, residing at Zelle-Mehlis 1, Germany,

have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Self-Loading Firearms (for which applications for patent have been filed in Germany, 21st November, 1918, 16th May, 1919; Austria, 31st May. 1919; Sweden, 28th May, 1919; Norway, 4th June, 1919; France, 12th June, 1919; Spain, 22nd July, 1919; Denmark, 26th August, 1919; Holland, 30th August, 1919; Italy, 29th August, 1919; Switzerland, 10th September, 1919; Bel- 15 gium, 11th September, 1919; Great Britain,

6th November, 1919; Poland, 7th May,

1920), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to self-loading fire arms and has the distinguishing feature that the fore end of the stock is pivoted with its head portion to the barrel, so as to allow of it being swung away from the barrel into a position at right angles thereto and to serve as a lever or handle for unscrewing the said barrel from the breech of the gun. Besides, as in this kind of lire arms the breech is closed at its rear, it becomes necessary from time to time to remove the barrel from the breech for cleaning purposes, which would not be possible if the latter were allowed to remain in position on the breech.

Another feature of the invention consists in the arrangement of the cartridge magazine at the fore end of the stock. This arrangement, considering that the fore end of the stock is pivotally mounted with its head portion upon the barrel of the gun, permits of the rear end of themagazine being swung away from the barrel, whereby said rear end becomes accessible for the introduction4 and removal of the cartridges into or from the magazine.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of novel cartridge retaining means at the end of the magazine.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example; said drawings illustrating two modifications of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a fragmentary side elevation of the self-loading lire arm with the fore end of the stock hinged to the barrel; the cartridge retaining means being shown partly with the fore end of the stock being slightly diverted from the barrel. The ma azlne 1s partly shown in section and ready or loading; one of the cartridges being shown locked in the magazine.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections through the improved fire arm and the fore end of the stock; Fig. 3 being a cross section on line A-B of Fig. 1, in which the magazine is tilted up so as to be close against the barrel, Fig. 4 is a cross section on line C-D of Fig. 2; whilst Fig. 5 is a cross section of a detail on line E-F of Fig. 3 and shows a catch for locking the fore end of the stock.

As will be seen from the drawings the fore end of the stock l is pivoted with its head portion to the barrel 2 by means of a hinge la. The barrel 2 has a screw-threaded portion 2al bv means of which it is screwed into the breech 5, whereby the shoulder 2c of the barrel rests against the surface 2d of the said breech when the barrel is in position. The fore end of the stock 1 can be turned about its hinge l so as to provide a handle or a lever for applying an increased force to the barrel when screwing it into or out of the breech. The magazine 8 is arranged Within the hollow stock and has a spring 3 which is provided with a nose 3a at its rear end. This nose 3a is adapted to enga e with a similar nose 4zt of a pin 4 arrange horizontally within the breech 5 and placed under the influence of a spring 4", thus imparting to the nose 4b of the pin 4 the tendency to keep the nose 3a of the spring 3 engaged. The head of the pin 4 is arranged so as to project slightly from the breech 5 (Figs. 3 and 4).k On pressing the pin 4 into the breech 5 against the action of its spring 4", the nose 4 of said pin moves away from the nose 3a of the sprlng 3, whereby the fore end of the stock 1 is freed at its rear end and can now be swung away from the barrel. The breech 5 is provided with a projection 5a located opposite the spring 3 and adapted to catch the nose 3"L of the fore end of the stock 1. Said projection is so arranged that the rear of the fore end o`f the stock can be lowered just suiiiciently to permit of cartridges being introduced into the magazine 8. The latter is provided with the usual spring 7 serving to press the cartridges out of the magazine.

In order to prevent the cartridges being ejected -from the magazine by the action of theA spring 7, when the stock l is-in its turned-down position, a spring catch 6 is provided for retaining the cartridges in the magazine, said spring catch being fastened with its one end to the breech 5 and at its opposite end carries an enlarged head 6b adapted to bear against the projecting flange of the last cartridge in ythe magazine (Fig. 2). When the fore end of the stock is to be completely swung open so as to stand at right angles to the barrel 2, the no'se 3 of the spring 3 will have to be depressed in order t0 become clear of the projection 5? of the breech 5. Therefore the spring 3 together with its projection 3a must be pressed inwardly. This can be carried out without difficulty as the said spring is arranged within a recess in the rear end of the magazine and is therefore easily accessible (see Fig. 4). On the spring 3 being pressed inwardly its nose 3a is brought out of engagement with the projection 5a of the breech 5, thus allowing of the fore end of the stock together with the magazine 8 being pivoted into any desired position.

We claim 1. Self-loading fire arm comprising in combination with the barrel a 'forestock hingedly connected with the barrel, a lockinfr device for securing said orestock in its normal position and for releasing the same so that it can swing to an angular position with regard to the barrel, a second locking device for locking said fore end of the stock in this angular position and for releasing the same so that it can be swung to a position at approximately right angles to the barrel to serve as handle for screwing the barrel in or out of the breech.

2. Self-loading fire arm comprising in combination with the barrel a forestock hingedly connected with the barrel, a locking device for securing said forestock in its normal position and for releasing the same so that it` can swing to an angular position with regard to the barrel, a second locking device for locking said fore end of the -stock in this angular position and for releasing the same so that it can be swung to a. position at approximately right angles to the barrel to serve as handle for screwing the barrel in or out of the breech., a cartridge magazine in the rear part of the fore end ofthe stock so that when the fore end is swung to the first angular position the mouth of the magazine is disclosed for inserting or withdrawing the cartridges.

3. Self-loading fire arm comprising in combination with the barrel a orestock hingedly connected with the barrel, a locking device for securing said forestock in its normal position and for releasing the same so that it can swing to an angular position with regard to the barrel, a second lockin device for locking said fore end of the stock in this angular position and for releasing the same so that it can be swung to a position at approximately right angles to the barrel to serve as handle for screwing the barrel in or out of the breech, a cartridge magazine in the rear part of the fore end of the stock so that when the fore end is swung to the first angular position the mouth of the magazine is disclosed for inserting or withdrawing the cartridges, and a spring catch in said breech for retaining the cartridge in the said magazine.

In testimony whereof we aihx our signatures in presence of witnesses.

ANN Drum., RUDOLF RCKEB. 

